The Russian air force has intensified its activity on the Ukraine war’s front line to try to capitalise on the victory at Avdiivka, the eastern city that Moscow’s forces captured last month. After a long period of avoiding threats from Ukrainian air defence, the tactic has proven risky: Kyiv’s forces have shot down several enemy aircraft in recent weeks.
Russia’s air force is in trouble in the skies over Ukraine. In the last two weeks of February, Kyiv said it shot down 14 aircraft, including several Sukhoi Su-34 and Su-35 fighter-bombers. Add the two Beriev A-50 detection and command craft that Kyiv felled a few weeks apart and the toll looks heavier still for Moscow.
Kyiv’s figures could not be independently verified. But as with any such claims of success, Ukraine has “every interest in trumpeting it and presenting it in the most spectacular way possible”, says author and independent defence consultant Marc Chassillan. “It’s all part of war propaganda and the Ukrainians would be wrong not to use it, since it contributes strongly to the morale of soldiers and the population.”
Military experts agree on one fact: Russian sorties have increased significantly in recent weeks. After suffering heavy losses during the first month of the invasion, the Russian air force had long kept its distance from the Western anti-aircraft defences deployed by Ukraine. But Russia now appears to be putting its pilots at greater risk to support infantry on the ground.
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